Incheon City Begins Design of Bio Process Workforce Center... Construction to Start in Second Half of Next Year

Bird's-eye view of the Bio Process Workforce Training Center [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is accelerating the promotion of a Bio Process Workforce Training Center that will supply excellent talent to domestic large corporations and overseas companies in the bio sector.

On the 12th, the city announced that the winning design for the center was submitted jointly by the consortium of Sangsang Nanum Architects Office and Miru Architects Office.

The winning design received high scores by reflecting the continuity of the master plan concept of the university campus and linking space utilization with the concurrently progressing Pharmaceutical Bio Practical Center.

The city will start ground investigation and design services this month, complete them in the first half of next year, and begin construction of the center on the Yonsei University Songdo International Campus in the second half of next year. The center will be a four-story building with a total floor area of 6,600㎡. The official opening is targeted for January 2024.

Previously, Incheon City secured the Bio Process Workforce Training Center in October last year. Yonsei University, which will be responsible for educational operations, plans to operate master's degree programs and non-degree courses for employees and job seekers, training 2,000 specialized personnel annually.

Once the output of professionals in related fields becomes full-scale, it is expected to respond to the demand for specialized personnel not only in Korea but also in East Asia, while playing a pivotal growth engine role in the development of Incheon's bio industry.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the demand for new personnel in the bio process (production facilities and quality control) sector is expected to reach 16,554 by 2023. However, the current supply of personnel is only 10,356 (an average of 2,071 per year), falling far short of demand. Especially, as the demand for new personnel in the rapidly growing advanced biopharmaceutical sector is expected to surge, workforce training in the bio field is urgent.

Mayor Park Namchun stated, "Through the establishment of the Bio Process Workforce Training Center, we will respond to the government's vaccine hub policy and complete an educational system capable of addressing national challenges." He added, "It is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing Korea's bio-health competitiveness by timely supplying practical bio specialists."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.